150 migrants rescued from maritime distress off Berck-sur-Mer

Berck-sur-Mer – July 23, 2026: Off Berck-sur-Mer in the Pas-de-Calais department, 150 migrants were rescued from distress at sea. According to the French maritime rescue organization SNSM, this was one of the largest rescue operations in the history of the migrant crisis along France’s English Channel coast. The people were in a critical situation at sea and were transferred to safety by the deployed rescue teams.

The rescue operation took place in a coastal area that has for years been one of the main departure points for irregular crossings to the United Kingdom. The short distance across the English Channel conceals its dangers. Small, often overloaded boats can quickly become endangered in changing weather and sea conditions. The regional maritime rescue coordination center CROSS Gris-Nez plays a particularly important role in maritime rescues in this area.

SNSM operates a rescue station in Berck-sur-Mer and works with government agencies and other support and rescue organizations in emergencies on the water. The organization’s volunteer crews are coordinated during operations by the maritime operations command. The organization states that its mission is to assist people in imminent danger, regardless of their origin or destination.

Initially, no further reliable, verified information was available on the exact circumstances of the distress, the type of boat, or the health condition of those rescued. Details of possible medical measures on land and subsequent action by authorities were also not initially made public. However, the high number of people rescued indicates the scale of the operation off Berck-sur-Mer.

Along the coast of northern France, rescue operations related to attempts to cross the English Channel occur regularly. In June of this year, dozens of people were rescued in the Authie Bay near Berck-sur-Mer after being caught by an unexpectedly fast-rising tide. However, that operation concerned people stranded on the coast and was not directly related to the sea rescue reported here.

According to SNSM, the organization carried out around 9,000 operations nationwide in 2025 and assisted approximately 26,000 people. A significant proportion of these assistance operations took place at sea. Due to the high number of people affected, the operation off Berck-sur-Mer was one of the particularly large rescue missions along the English Channel coast.

Authorities and rescue organizations repeatedly urge the public to report emergencies at sea immediately through designated emergency reporting channels. In French coastal waters, CROSS coordinates assistance for vessels and people in danger. For the 150 people rescued off Berck-sur-Mer, support on land will initially be the focus after the immediate maritime distress has ended.